Petroleum and gas control apparatus



June `6, 1933. M. J. TRUMBLE Er AL PETROLEUM AND GAS CONTROL APPARATUSFiled Dec. 3, 1950 man 6,455:

` INVENTOR. /V/L 0^/ 2' TRL/MELE WILL/AM L. .FEEL-EY ATTORNEYS.

Patentedlune 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT "FFC nzruoir a'. mmm, orALHAMBRA, Ann WILLIAM; n muy, or Los ANGELES, CALI- romnA, Assrenons Toraocnssco, Lnnrnn, or sAn rnancxsco, cALIroamA, A

consonancia or :savana Appunti mea ummm a. 1930. semi' no. 599,139.

This invention relates .to apparatus for controlling gas-carryingpetroleum under high pressure, particularly such gas-carrying petroleumas received directly from the 5 wells, and the'dprinci al object of theinvention is to lstep own e pressure while simultaneously chillin theiiuid so that certain desirable gases w1 be retained the 1i uid andcertain which are undesir- 1 o ab e in the liquid will be freed orconveyed to other uses. Another object is to provide automaticallyoperated apparatus for effect ing the above. Other obJects will appearin the following description and accompanying lli-drawing. r v

Crude petroleum. as received from high pressure wells may run all the wato 1400 pounds or more to the-square ine ,and at various vtemperatures uto 180 F. or more at)A depending on the locallty and depth of theparticular well, and such oils under .high pressure and elevatedtemperature carry an enormous volume of gases, some ofwhichv such asbutane, pentane and heavier gases are desirable as constituents ofcommercia gasoline, while others of a more volatile nature such asethane, propane, etc.` generally known as fixed gases are undesirable,yet 'upon the free release ofA pressure of the petroleum as it issuesfrom the well the desirable gases would be carried away with theundesirable gases, and to avoid this many richer in desirable content sothat the ab.

soition treatment was more evciently carr1 out. 5 of following the aboveprocedan,

dicated b y thedarker portions 12, while ex' we have discovered that theinherent pressure of the gas carrying oil maybe made to induce Y,auto-refrigeratiou of the fluid in successive steps and whereby theundesirable gases mentioned may be liberated while due to the drop intemperature the desirable gases are all recondensed lwithin the liquidbody and thus retained without resorting to the wellknown steps ofcondensingand/or absorption, though, ,if desired, it is evident thatthese steps may be additionally practiced Y on any gas found carryingvalues in respect to richer gases which it is desired to recover.

To carry out the invention we have devised the apparatus shown inthe-drawing and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of theapparatus, Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 as seen from the line2.-2 thereof, Fig. 3 is an enlarged cro sectionof a fragment of. theneedle valve plate and adjacent portions, and Fig. 4 is a dis. ammaticsketch of anVY installation of the evices.

Infurther detail, 1 is a verticall disposed heavy-steel cylinder withoutwarxy curved heads 2, 3 referably made of forged steel 7b welded tothe body ofthe tank at 4, 5, and the juncturesjcovered by bands of steel6, 7 shrunk in place and further welded to the body at their upper andlower edges as indicated, while extending through thereinforcing bandsat o posits ends of the cylinder are inlet an outlet pipes 8 and 9resectively.

ithin the cylinder is an expansion pipe and slide valve assemblage allassembled and welded in place before welding on the cylinder heads.'vThis assemblage comprises two f heavy disks 1Y0, 11 extending acrossand spaced inwardly from vthe opposite 'ends of t e cylinder and firmlywelded in lplace as intending t rough these plates and firmly -weldedthegto at opposltllxdis laluralligA og v pi arranged"rtoe.tu`of 9.gister tube. boiler.` ,y After welding the tubes and heads in place theupper end of the tube assemblage is turned oif perfectly and true andaat smoothv apertured and movable .or slidable.

zvalve plate 14 is placed `thereon and'above this is closel fittedanother heavy disk firmly welde to the cylinder and which disk isprovided with a plurality of fine holes 16 each one of which is alignedover one of the v bores of the tubes 13.

. ment with holes 16 so as to effectively close them oi with respect topipes 13 as shown clearly in Fig. 3. To permit movement of plate 14 andyet hold it to a proper path of travel so as to bring its holes intoalignmentwith holes 16, plate 14 is made somewhat smaller than theinterior of the cylinder and is impigned at its opposite edges by handscrews 18 passing through stuffing boxes 19, while a plurality of shortpins 20 projecting from recesses in plate 10 and positioned in shortslots 21 formed in plate 14 at points between its holes 17 function bothas guide pins for disk 14- as well as sup orting pins for disk 15 sothat the latter will not be forced down too tightly upon plate 14 tomake yit immovable under pressure.

The small holes 16 in plate 15 are outwardly beveled on their upper endsto form tapered seats for a plurality of needle valves 22 projectingdownwardly from a ribbed disk or needle valve head 23 carried at thelower end of a vertically extending rod 24 assing upward throughcylinder head 2 an into a small cylinder 25 where it is fitted with apiston 26 provided with rings 27 and a further extension or smallerpiston 28 operating in a second small cylinder 29 against a compressionspring 30, the Jforce of which may be adjusted by a screw 31v threadedlyassing through the cap 32 of cylinder 29 an carrying upon its upper enda loosely splined gear 33 meshing'in turn with a pinion 34 secured tothe upper end of a shaft 35 operated by a handwheel 36 secured to itslower end.

Cylinder assemblage S25-2,9 is bolted to a seat formed on top of head2and the lower part of piston 26 is exposed to pressure from` undercylinder head 2 through means of asmall passage 37 which may be closedoff more orless by a needle valve 38 adjustable from without by ahandwheel 39.

Any fiuid under pressure which might pass piston 26 will find its waythrough into cylinder 29 for escape at vent 40, though when piston 26 isat its hi hest point its conical ub 41 seats ina comp ementarily formeddepression in the ,upper end of cylinder., 25 to seal ol any possibleleakage.

The-,space around the tubes between heads 10 andll is sealed from thespaces A and B at the ends of the cylinder and is provided .with inletand outlet fluid circulation pipesA 42, 43. n l A Pressure gages 44, 45'are inserted in the LaraevoI upper andl lower ends of the cylinder asindicated, and at the extreme lower end is a sedimentA draw-oi pipe 46,while on outlet pipe is an automatic pressure regulating valve Theentire vertical movement Vof needle valve head 23 is so limited ythatthe tips of the valves 22 do not completely withdraw from their taperedseats, so as to insure against displacement of the valves relative tothe apertures.

It should be notedthat sliding valve plate 14 provides a dual control sothat the fiow may be modified or entirely shut off independent of andwithout altering, the spring setting of automatic expansion valves 22.

In operation, crude petroleum with its gas content under' the pressureand heat from the well is admitted directly to the upper portion of thecylinder through pipe 8 until the pressure builds up to normal wellpressure. This pressure acts upon the lower lface of iston 26 and tendsto raise the valves 22. owever, vspring 30 is'then adjusted tocounteract this pressure and permit a constant flow and expansion of thefiuid through the small orifices and through the heat exchange ltubes 13to the space B at the lower end of the cylinder where a reduced pressureis maintained by the automatic regulator 46.

The passage of the fluid through the small orifices breaks the oil andgas into a fine spray which in expanding falls downward through thetubes accompanied by a sharp/drop in 4 temperature depending on therelative pressures, initial temperature and rate of flow permitted bythe automatic control.

The oil and gas mixture is discharged from the lower chamber by meansofthe automatic regulating valve 46 into the next of several succeedingpieces of similar apparatus as may be, necessary to reduce the pressureto the desired point and the temperature to or below atmospheric.

With an oil-gasmixture from the well at highV pressure it is possible toobtain a great drop 1n temperature in the irst apparatus, though onaccount of the'moisture content of the oils there would be dangeroffreezing the orifices, and it is better vto drop the pressure severalhundred' pounds at a time in stages from one apparatus to the next withconsequent progressive reduction of temperature, it bein understood thatsucceeding devices should e proportioned to handle the increasing bulkof fluid passing therethrough, as indicated by the successive devices C,D, E, F in Fig. 4 followedby a gas separator G and pressure storage tanH. v

It will be noted that pi s 42 and 43 will permit artificial cooling w enrequired, particularl when treating oils under lower pressure an greaterinitial heat such as obtained from some stages of hydrogenating andcracking plants, or the circulation of a irfmtfLthelOlPFessum l l 3.Apparati'sfforcontro Warmer luid to prevent undue Ycooling from toorapid an-expansion fromoils under high pressure and lrelatively lowinitial heat.

Summarizing the operations of the apparatus, and without burdening thespecification with figures and technical data, it may be stated that anoil-gas mixture of from a 1000 to 2000 pounds pressure and at atemperatunreof about 180 F. may be expanded 1Q through the apparatus toa pressure of 150 e pounds and a temperature of 40 F., or forced byartificial means if necessary, with a result that all volatile fractionsare-condensed within the liquid up to and including butane, thusallowing the objectionable or lighter dry gases tobe se arated oil inany suitableseparating cham r. If desired, a portion of the. excessbutane may be separated as a gas ata lower pressure.

When the oil is run'to storage tanks and its temperature has graduallyrisen to atmosphere mean temperature say about to in average. time, allof the condensed fractions of gasoline are retained down to y andincluding pentane (boiling point 97 F.) and a part of the butane (up to5% by vol- `unie of total oil) is also retained. All gas and vaporshould be-separated in any con- A venient gas and oil separator or gastra at w a pressure of 100 pounds per square inc or more as thebutanevwill remain in a liquid state at temperature below 60 F. at thislpressure. .Any gas given olf from a lower or atmospheric pressure tankwill contain high percentages of condensable vapor that maybe saved byeither the normal absorption or. compression process and will not exceedperhaps one-hundredth part of the volume necessary to treat by a cashead plant.

i 59 separating sai tures through said partition, and d ual means f forseparately 'controlling the openings of said apertures. *l 'y .2.'Apparatus for controlling gas 'A petroleum under `pressure comp and lowpressure chambers, a partitionseparating said jchambers, a' plurali ofapertures through said partition, v ve means for simultaneoi'isly`controlling the veffective o in of thea rtures and a lurahty ofegleinsigon tubes ceding from saildnpertures chamber' Y vtroleuin underpfcomprising End low p chambers, a' partition sepof valves arran ed forseatin in said aper- -From a'consideration of the invention as of valvesarran d forv seatin in said aper- 1 tures respective y, a valve hea towhich said tures respective y. a valve hea to which said valves aresecured, means for moving said arating said chambers," a plurality ofapertures through said partition, valve means for simultaneouslycontrollin the eiective opening of the apertures, a p urality ofexpansion tubes leading from the apertures to the low pressure chamber,and means for circulating a heat exchange iluid around. the i outersides of said tubes. y 4. Apparatus for controlling gas-carrying1petroleum under pressure comprising a cy nder, a transverse partition insaid cylinder providing at oppeosite sides a high and a low pressurecham r 'and pierced by a` plurality of apertures, a petroleum inlet tosaid high pressure chamber and a petroleum outlet from said low pressurechamber, a plurality of valves arranged for seating in said aperturesrespectively, a valve head to which said valves are secured, and meansfor moving said head to control the degree .of opening-of saidapertures. 5. Apparatus for controlling gas-carryin troleum underpressure comprising a cy inder, a transverse' partition'in said'cylinderproviding at opposite sides a hi hi and a low pressure'chamber andpierced by a pluralit of apertures, a petroleum inlet to said hi rassurechamber and a petroleum out et om said low pressure chamber, a pluralitys tures respective y, a valve hea to which said' valves are secured, andmea responsive to the ressure of said petroleum for moving said ead tocontrol the degiee of opening of saidV apertures.

6. Apparatus for controlling gas-carrying petroleum `under pressurecomprising a cylinder, a transverse partition in said cylinder providingat opposite sides a high and a'lowA preure chamber and pierced by apluralit of apertures, a ,petroleum inlet to said hi li pressure chamberand a petroleum out et from said low pressure chamber, a pluralityvalves are secured, means for moving said head to control the degee ofopening of said apertures," and a plura 'ty of expansion tubes extendangfrom v'said apertures. tothe low pressure chamber. nl 7. Apparatus forcontrolling gas-carrying troleum under pressure comprising a cyliner, atransverse partition in said cylinder providing at o posite sides a high.anda low pressure cham r and pierced by a vpluralit of apertures, apetroleum inlet to said hi li j pressure chamber and a petroleum vout et.from said low pressure chamber, a plurality v 'of' valves arraii n forseati in said aperi head to control the degree of opening 'of saidapertures, a plate arrangedadncent said partition and apertured to matchthe same and means whereby the plate may be mov o to misalign itsapertures with those of the partition.

8. Apparatus for controlling gas-carrying petroleum under pressure,comprising a c l- 5 inder, a transverse artition in said c 1in erYforming ahigh and) a low pressure c lamber at opposite ends of therelmder, said partition vhaving a plurality o apertures for passage of thepetroleum from the one chamber to the other, a plurality of valves inthe high pressure chamber seated respectively in said apertures, aheadto which said valves'are secured, arod secured to said head providedwith a piston, a cylinder in which said piston l5 operates forsimultaneously opening said valves, means for admitting pressure Vfromthe high pressure chamber to act against the said piston for openingsaid valves and adjustable means for counteracting the eiect of said i0pressure against said piston.

9. In a construction as specified in claim 8, said means Yfor admittingpressure from the' high pressure chamber belng manually adjustable tovarious values.

10. Apparatus for controlling gas-carrying petroleum under pressure,comprising a c linder, a transverse partition in saidcylin er 'forming ahigh and a low pressure chamber at opposite ends of the cylinder, saidpartition 80 comprising a plurality of s aced tubes extendinglongitudinally of t e cylinder secured at opposite ends to disks Weldedto the cylinder walls, a plate at one end of the tubes provided with alurality of aper- 85 tures aligned over the tu e openings, and

means for controlling the opening of said apertures. i

11. Apparatus for controlling gas-carrying `.petroleum under pressure,comprising a c l- 40' inder, a transverse (partition in said c lin erforming a high an a low ressure c amber at opposite ends of the cyliner, said partition comprising a pluralityl of spaced tubes extendinglongitudinally of the cylinder secured at opposite ends to disks weldedto the cylinder walls, a plate at one end of the tubes provided with aplurality of apertures aligned over the tube openings, means for con2trolling the opening of said apertures, and 'means for circulating aheat-exchange fluid around said tubes. n 12. Apparatus for controllinggas-carryin petroleum under pressure comprising hig and low pressurechambers, a plurality of tubular expansion passages separating thechambers, and a plurality of expansion valves 1n the high pressurechamber arranged for expanding a fluidyfrom the high pressure chamber tothe tubes. v MILON J. TRUMBLE.

- WILLIAM L.- SEELEY.

